Bettany

 Bettany Mary Hughes OBE FSA (born May 1967) is an English historian, author and broadcaster, with a specialization in classical history. Her books focus on mythology and classical antiquity, aswell as the history of Istanbul. She actively supports the teaching of classical studies in UK public schools. Hughes was awarded an OBE in the year 2019. In 2010, she delivered the Hellenic Institute's Tenth Annual Lecture "Ta Erotika, The Things of Love" and in 2011, she was a speaker at the Royal Television Society's Huw Wilson Memorial Lecture. She argued that television history is thriving and is entering a new golden time. In 2011, she was chair of the Orange Prize for Fiction, the only UK annual book award for writing by women. Hughes is a patron of The Iris Project, a charity that promotes the study of Latin and Greek in UK state schools. She is an honorary patron of Classics For All, a national initiative to bring ancient languages and study of civilisations back in state schools. She serves as an advisor to the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation which aims to promote large-scale collaboration initiatives between East and West